COVID-19 Updates

UPDATED 1/09/2021

For current information on COVID-19, including testing and vaccination in Oklahoma, please visit: Coronavirus (oklahoma.gov)
IMPORTANT: If registering to receive the vaccination, please use an email address that is specific to only you since this is how Oklahoma is currently keeping track. Only one email address can be used per person, and it must be a new email that has not been used by anyone else.

 

UPDATED 8/16/2020

Please access ODHA’s COVID-19 Resource Guide for the Dental Office to view the follow updates:

1. ADHA Interim Guidance on Returning to Work (updated August 7th)

2. CDC Updated Dental Information (updated August 4th)

UPDATED 7/18/2020

1. The ODHA Executive Board released this statement on July 11, 2020 regarding mask wearing in public based on evidenced-based research. 
2. The following ODHA Covid-19 Resource Guide for the Dental Office Google Doc is updated periodically. (See updated link above)
3. Tulsa has passed a new mask ordinance effective through November 30, 2020. To see the full ordinance click here.
UPDATED 4/29/2020
Hello Oklahoma Hygienists!

 

ODHA COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE
The Oklahoma Dental Hygienists’ Association is committed to providing dental hygienists in the state with trusted information on how to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. Please find the attached Resource Guide for the Dental Office to assist you in identifying credible information. This is a living document and will be updated as needed.

 

OKLAHOMA BOARD OF DENTISTRY UPDATE
The Oklahoma Board of Dentistry issued this statement today regarding offices returning to non-emergent care on May 1st. They also discuss CDC guidelines vs. guidance and how they affect the practice of dentistry in Oklahoma. Please read for more detail.
https://www.ok.gov/dentistry/documents/4-29-2020%20Statement%20From%20the%20Board.pdf

 

THE STATEMENT ODHA RELEASED TODAY CAN BE READ HERE.
—
Holly Abbott, RDH, BS
President-ODHA
UPDATED 4/23/2020

 

Governor Stitt released the following plan for a phased reopening of Oklahoma. At this point it doesn’t affect dental offices, our reopen date still stands as May 1st. Please note, the mayors of Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Norman all stated that they will not follow the Governor’s reopen plan, and their original orders will remain in place through April 30th. Please check your city’s website for updates. 

 

Please do these four things if you are concerned about resuming non-emergent care on May 1st due to patient safety, safety of dental hygienists and other dental professionals, the lack of PPE guidelines, and the inability to acquire recommended PPE

 

1. CONTACT GOVERNOR STITT
We recommend that use the ODHA Statement released on 4/20/20 to customize your message; you can simply cut and paste it into the comments section! If you have already done this- thank you!
ODHA Statement:LINKED HERE

 

2. CONTACT YOUR MAYOR USING THE ATTACHED LETTER
This is likely how we will be the most effective. Please don’t skip this important step. The letter is already written for you. Simply download, fill in the date, your mayor’s last name and your city, and sign. Then email and mail a paper copy to your mayor. You can find your mayor’s email address and mailing address by simply searching online. 

 

3. CONTACT THE BOARD OF DENTISTRY
Remind them that according to the Oklahoma Dental Practice Act, dentists are required to follow CDC guidelines. OK Rules and Regulations Section 328.32, A, #13.At this time the CDC still recommends that dental offices do not provide non-emergent care.

 

4. JOIN THE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL WITH GOVERNOR STITT AND SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD TONIGHT (4/23/20 at 7:30pm) AND VOICE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE INABILITY OF DENTAL OFFICES TO OBTAIN APPROPRIATE PPE AND INFECTION CONTROL SUPPLIES TO OPEN ON MAY 1ST FOR ROUTINE CARE.

 

Remember, we are more effective if we work together, and we are working for the safety of all patients and dental hygienists in Oklahoma. 

—

Holly Abbott, RDH,BS

President- Oklahoma Dental Hygienists’ Association
UPDATED 4/20/2020

 

You asked and ODHA answered! We know that many dental hygienists across the state are worried about returning to work on May 1st for many reasons including the lack of clear guidelines for PPE and protocol for resuming non-emergent dental care, returning to work too soon, inability to obtain proper PPE, and more. 

 

On April 19th, ODHA held a special Executive Board Meeting to create a statement that was sent to Governor Stitt and other regulatory authorities this morning that will be beneficial in hearing this urgent request. The ODHA statement is attached HERE for you to view. 

 

If you are concerned that May 1st is too soon to resume non-emergent dental treatment, please take the time to do two things:
1. Look for the ADHA email that will be arriving in your inbox in the next 24 hours, and use the link to inform your legislators that non-emergent dental care should continue to be postponed. We encourage you to use our attached statement to add more detail about what dental hygienists need in order to resume treating non-emergent patients.
2. Share the link with all of your RDH friends and colleagues so that we may reach as many people as possible!
We are in this together, and ODHA continues to work hard to protect our patients, the public, and dental hygienists across the state. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions!

—

Holly Abbott, RDH,BS

President- Oklahoma Dental Hygienists’ Association

UPDATED 4/2/2020

Today the OK Board of Dentistry (BOD) held an emergency meeting and approved the attached RESOLUTION. 
This resolution specifically states that the OK BOD will be enforcing Governor Stitt’s 4/1/2020 mandate that all elective dental treatment will be postponed through April 30th in all 77 counties of Oklahoma. It also clarifies that dental hygiene procedures, including SRP patients, are considered elective and should not be seen during this time. 
This document references the ADA guidelines to essential treatment. Feel free to share with your employer if you need to. 

 

The OK BOD also put together a recommendation of treatment protocols for offices to use while seeing emergency patients during this time. This includes some very helpful information including who can accompany a patient into the operatory, PPE during treatment, and procedures for patient checkout. This document is also posted on the OK BOD website and is attached below. Please feel free to share with your office or anyone else that may find it helpful. Click here for treatment protocols. 

 

Here is the link to Governor Stitt’s 8th Amendment to the Executive Order from 4/2/2020 that includes the order that all dental and medical offices postpone all elective treatment through April 30th.

—

Holly Abbott, RDH,BS

President- Oklahoma Dental Hygienists’ Association

OTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION

OPPORTUNITY FOR RDH’S TO COLLABORATE & HELP WHERE NEEDED
ODHA recognizes many dental hygienists desire to help in some way in the coming weeks when there will be a shortage of medical professionals. Our lobbyist has been inquiring to figure out ways for us to help. We may be able to use our education and clinical training to its fullest potential in long-term care facilities. If you are interested in making a positive difference in this way during this crisis please use this link to respond. https://leadingageok.org/long-term-care-job-placement-inquiry/?fbclid=IwAR1wokehNHzxP2GTo96XHjnB0pWNDmMpOaSLWvoHtAX-2bJXhiR9IRfh5eg

 

UNEMPLOYMENT AND OTHER RELIEF FOR DENTAL HYGIENISTS
ADHA is advocating on our behalf at the national level for dental hygienists to be included in the relief bills that Congress is considering. Here is a link the the second relief bill that Congress passed Thursday regarding paid time off and FMLA. This video does a very good job of explaining it if you have questions. Please take a minute to support this effort by sending a letter to Congress. The more of us they hear from, the more effective we will be! If you have any questions about unemployment, if you are eligible, and how the process works please contact the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. 405-557-7100
OK EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION to file for unemployment: https://unemployment.state.ok.us

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ADHA COVID-19 resources and updates: https://www.adha.org/covid19
ADHA email for COVID-19 related concerns: rdhcovidinfo@adha.net
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